About Sugar

Brazil and India are the largest sugar producing countries followed by China, USA, Thailand, Australia, Mexico,
Pakistan, France and Germany. Global sugar production increased from approximately 125.88 MMT in 1995-1996 to 149.4 MMT in 2002-2003 and then declined to 143.7 MMT in 2003-2004, whereas consumption increased steadily from 118.1 MMT in 1995-1996 to 142.8 MMT in 2003-2004. The world consumption is projected to grow to 160.7 MMT in 2010, and 176.1 MMT by 2015. According to ISO, the world sugar output is forecasted to reach 145.0 MMT and consumption to reach 147.0 MMT in 2004-2005, resulting in a deficit of around 2 MMT in 2004-2005. Further, since October 2003, nearly 5 MMT of surplus sugar are expected to have been removed from the world sugar balance, the stock/ consumption ratio to less than 42%.
India is the largest consumer and second largest producer of sugar in the world (Source: USDA Foreign Agricultural Service). The Indian sugar industry is the second largest agro-industry located in the rural India. The Indian sugar industry has a turnover of Rs. 500 billion per annum and it contributes almost Rs. 22.5 billion to the central and state exchequer as tax, cess, and excise duty every year (Source: Ministry of Food, Government of India). Sugar Industry in India is the second largest agro-processing industry in the country after cotton textiles. With 453 operating sugar mills in different parts of the country, Indian sugar industry has been a focal point for socio-economic development in the rural areas. About 50 million sugarcane farmers and a large number of agricultural laborers are involved in sugarcane cultivation and ancillary activities, constituting 7.5% of the rural population. Besides, the industry provides employment to about 2 million skilled/semi skilled workers and others mostly from the rural areas. (Source: ISMA Website accessed on May 16, 2005.) The Indian Sugar Industry not only generates power for its own requirement but surplus power for export to the grid based on byproduct bagasse. It also produces ethanol, an ecology friendly and renewable energy for blending with petrol. The sugar industry in Indian uses only sugarcane as input, hence sugar Companies have been established in large sugarcane growing states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. These six states contribute more than 85% of total sugar production in the India; Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra together contribute more than 57% of total production. Indian sugar industry has grown horizontally with large number of small sized sugar plants set up throughout the country as opposed to the consolidation of capacity in the rest of the important sugar producing countries and sellers of sugar, where greater emphasis has been laid on larger capacity of sugar plants.
The sugar production process involves three steps: (a) crushing of the sugarcane, (b) clarification of the sugarcane juice and crystallization of sugar and (c) separation. The sugarcane received from the farmers is uniformly fed to the fibrizor to prepare the same for efficient milling. The sugarcane is crushed to extract the sugarcane juice. The juice extracted from the milling plant is mechanically screened. The juice is then heated to about 70 degree centigrade in rapid flow vertical juice heater. The heated juice is limed and sulphited in a continuous juice sulphiter. The treated juice is then heated to approximately 105 degree
centigrade and made to enter a flash tank for the removal of gas and air before letting it into a continuous clarifier, where the settling of the mud and other impurities takes place. The clear juice is then sent to the evaporators for concentration. The muddy juice is filtered in rotary vacuum filters and recycled back in to the process while impurities taken out in the form of filter cakes are removed. The concentrated juice known as syrup is further boiled until the sugar crystallizes. Lastly, the mixture of sugar crystals and the syrup is spun in a centrifuge, which separates the sugar crystals (also called plantation white sugar) to produce sugar and molasses. The sugar produced is dried, graded and packaged for storage and marketing. Molasses, filter cake and bagasse (the fibrous residue leftover after crushing sugarcane and extracting its juice), are by-products of sugar production process. The molasses and filter cake are sold in the market to generate revenue.
The factory follows the standard double sulphitation process of clarification and 3 1/2 massecuite boiling scheme for production of direct plantation white sugar in accordance with following flow diagram:-
PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM
The Indian Sugar Story
India has been known as the original home of sugar and sugarcane. Indian mythology supports the above fact as it contains legends showing the origin of sugarcane. The Indian sugar industry banks on the sweet tooth of the countrys citizens as sweets and savories favor every occasion. Almost 75% of the sugar available in the open market is consumed by bulk consumers like bakeries, candy makers, sweet makers and soft drink manufacturers. Greater urbanization and rising standard of living have sparked of a rising trend in usage of sugar. Some of the pertinent facts relating to the Indian sugar industry can be encapsulated in the following manner:
y Tamil Nadu is recognized as one of the leading sugar producing states in the country with a share of about 10% in the overall sugar production. y y
As of 2001-02 there were 37 factories in operation in the state. The quantum of sugar produced by a mill is determined by the factors like daily crushing capacity, duration of crushing season and percentage of sugar recovery from the cane crushed. Sugar prices in the country can be classified into two broad categories at the user end as free market prices and prices of sugar through public distribution system. The substantial increase in the volume of free international trade in sugar presents an excellent opportunity to the Indian sugar industry to embark on a regular plan for sugar exports. The only cloud on the horizon is the restrictive sugar policy along with unstable sugar production pattern makes it an erratic trader on the world market.

About Sugar

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About Sugar

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Brazil and India are the largest sugar producing countries followed by China, USA, Thailand, Australia, Mexico,

PROCESS FLOW DIAGRAM

The Indian Sugar Story

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